The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and University of Colombo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishment of Council's short-term chair of social sciences at the university.

High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka, Ashok K. Kantha, and Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama signed the MoU on March 11 at the University's Senate Hall in the presence of Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Chrysantha Romesh Jayasinghe and senior academic staff of the university.

Under the terms of agreement, ICCR, in consultation with the university, shall appoint a suitable Indian academician to hold the chair for a period of six months.

During the six months term, the visiting professor would contribute to the academic life of the university by engaging in teaching, research and mentoring.

The chair would commence from October 2010, and the MoU would remain valid for five years from 2010.

In his remarks, Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kantha stated that India and Sri Lanka share an excellent relationship, in which both countries could count on each other whenever required.

However, he said that there has been a lack of focus on regional studies, thus depriving policy makers of crucial inputs.

Kantha further reiterated that the MoU would enable the university to source academicians on a long-term basis from India.

He also opined that the visiting chair should be regarded as a stepping-stone for the establishment of a much-needed Center for Contemporary Indian Studies.

Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Hirimburegama observed that the MoU would contribute to the exchange of expertise on regular basis between the two countries.

The institution of a visiting chair would be a very important step in furthering ICCR's larger mandate of fostering and strengthening educational and cultural linkages and mutual understanding between India and Sri Lanka through exchange of scholars, intellectuals, academicians and artistes. (ANI)